Jonathan Maguire's 4-wheel-drive truck caught fire early Wednesday morning while he was trying to get it out of the sand after a night of fishing. The man was pulled from the truck by a passerby. | (Photo courtesy of Charlestown Police)

CHARLESTOWN — A fisherman trying to free his truck from the sand on Charlestown Beach was pulled out from under it after it burst into flames Wednesday morning.

Charlestown Police Lt. Patrick McMahon said Jonathan Maguire, 68, of 24 Traymore St., had apparently spent the night fishing in front of 702 Charlestown Beach Road when he decided it was time to leave his fishing spot early in the morning.

McMahon said shortly before 7 a.m., Maguire attempted to leave in his 2007 Dodge pickup truck when he was unable to get the vehicle out of the spot he was in. Police said Maguire’s repeated attempts to drive the truck out of the sand were unsuccessful and at a certain point he got under the truck to see if he could loosen the sand to help with traction.

As he was attempting to free his truck, it burst into flames. According to McMahon, an unidentified person pulled him out from under the truck.

Cross’ Mills firefighters were called to the scene and were forced to use 500 feet of hose to get to the site of the burning vehicle. Charlestown Ambulance personnel also checked Maguire, who said he did not want to be transported to the hospital.

State Department of Environmental Management enforcement officers and hazardous materials officials were also called to the beach to oversee the cleanup.

There were no significant hazardous chemicals spilled because the gasoline was burned off by the fire near the motor of the truck, said Jill Eastman, DEM’s oil and hazardous waste specialist. She said it appears the truck overheated as Maguire continued to try to get it out. She said another concern of the department is potential leaking of fuel from the gas tank but that was successfully averted. The truck was a loss, McMahon said, and was later towed from the beach.

DEM spokesperson Gail Mastrati said there were no citations issued to Maguire.